26th World AIDS Day observed across the world on 1 December

1 December: World AIDS Day

26th World AIDS Day was observed across the world on 1 December 2014. The day is observed to raise awareness to the Aids pandemic caused by the spread of the HIV infection.

The theme is Focus, Partner, Achieve: An AIDS-free generation – to highlight the need to for governments and health officials, NGOs and individuals to address Aids prevention and treatment.

As a part of World AIDS Day, The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) pushed for more investment and access to treatment for children saying that more infections among children under age 15 need to be averted.

UNICEF released data that AIDS-related deaths are not decreasing in the age group 10-19 and still other groups have experienced about a 40 percent decline between 2005 and 2013.

About World AIDS Day
• The idea for World Aids Day was conceived by James Bunn and Thomas Netter, who are the public information officers for the Global Programme on Aids at the World Health Organisation in 1987.
• The history of HIV and Aids in the US began in 1981, when the country recognised a new illness among a small number of gay men. Although it widely accepted that the origin of HIV lies in Africa, the US was the first country to bring the virus into the public consciousness.
• World AIDS Day will be held on 1 December every year and is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died.
• First World AIDS Day was held in 1988 and is the first ever global health day.